Confederations Cup will go on despite protests: FIFA

Rio de Janeiro, June 22 (IANS)

Protestors hold banners prior to the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 Group A match between Brazil and Japan at National Stadium on June 15, 2013 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Football’s world governing body FIFA dismissed any possibility of cancelling the Confederations Cup taking place in Brazil, despite mounting nationwide protests against public spending on the event and others like it.

The world football governing body issued a statement Friday saying “we will continue to closely follow the development of the events. At no time has FIFA, nor the Local Organising Committee nor the Federal Government proposed or contemplated the possibility of cancelling the FIFA Confederations Cup“, reports Xinhua.

“We support and defend the right to freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration, and condemn all forms of violence,” FIFA said, adding it is “in permanent contact with local authorities and fully confident of the security measures that are being implemented”.

Local press Friday reported the possible cancellation of the cup featuring teams from eight nations, including host Brazil, as the press claimed one of the teams was pressuring its directors to abandon the games, in part fearing for the safety of family members in Brazil to watch the matches.

FIFA, however, said “we have not received any requests from any of the teams proposing the possibility of abandoning Brazil”.

Local press also reported FIFA officials may be more concerned by events after protesters in the town of Salvador de Bahia threw rocks Thursday at two buses transporting FIFA officials.

Demonstrators also gathered outside the Hotel de Bahia, where members of the world football body have been staying, and tried to force their way into the building, the press said.

Brazil is slated to host more international events, such as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.